Vending-machine.



B. M. DAVIS.

vENmNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1914- 1,208,921. Patented Deo. 19,1916.

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VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. I9I4. 1,20.,921. Patented De.19,1916.

TTOH/x/Ex B. M. DAVIS. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1914.

BETHUELAM. DAVIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO POST-CARD VENDING MACHINE GO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Application led March 9, 1914.` Serial N'o. 823,436.

To all wlwm t may concern:

Be it known that I, BETHUEL M. lDAvIs, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new, original, and useful Improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the following specification, together with the accompanying drawings, is. a full and clear disclosure.

My invention relates to coin controlled vending machines and the specific type shown and described in this specification is adapted for vending post cards or any other similar commodity.

A special object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of vending machine having a plurality of dispensing gates.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement, whereby only one gate can be brought into use at a time.

Still another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby anyone of a number of reservoirs can be brought into joint operation with each and every gate. v

It is also an object of my invention to provide certain details and features of improvements and combinations tending to increase the eiiciency and serviceability of a vending machine of this particularcharacter.

Means for accomplishing the foregoing and other useful ends are hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure -1 is a front elevation of the machine showing six gates and a coin controlled operating mechanism associated with each. Fig. 2 is a top section on line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing the revolving card holder and card containing pockets thereon, and also the locking and ratchet controlling mechanism for revolving the stand so as to cause the cards in each vertical division, which contains in this particular case six pockets, in front of the windows shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the section of the machine (Fig. l), with the outer .portion of the base removed and with the door which holdsthe coin controlled mechanism removed. Fig. 4 is a back view in elevation, showingone of the coin controlled devices between lines 3-3 anda-4, and a part of an upper adjoining similar device and a part o a lower Specification of Letters Patent.

vshown in Fig. 9,

Patented Dee. 19,1916.

adjoining similar device.

which each mechanism is provided in normal position. Fig.

6 shows the same device operated partly with the coin in place. Fig. 7 shows the mechanism of Fig. 4: partly operated to the left. Fig. 8 shows the mechanism for draw- 1ng out the cards from-the containing pocket such card being in a posi- Fig. l, through the card slot and it shows also the latch for tion as shown in when drawn, locking all of in use for preventing more than one device being operated at the same time. Fig. 9 shows a card containing pocket, card controlling springs and cards in position, from which position they are withdrawn by the mechanism shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 shows a latch behind the card slot to prevent anyone from drawing out a card except in the regular way.

Before going into details of the mechanism, I will explain in general the operation of the machine. Without depositing any coin the lever 2 may be carried from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and indicated in Fig. l, to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 within the slot 3. By then returning the lever to its original position, the revolving stand within the casing 4 is rotated and advanced one position, thereby bringing a new section in front of the windows 5 (Fig. l). By continuing this operation six times, the cylinder can be made to revolve to 360 degrees, thereby exposing all of the card containing pockets. Therefore, it will be seen that by operating this lever 2, a customer may bring any card that he may wish to purchase opposite some one of the windows. It will be seen that at the opposite end of the lever 2 there is provided a spring 2', which assists in rotating the cylinder 10 and in restoring the arm 2 to normal position. Assuming that the card is in a pocket opposite the third window fro-m the to-p, a coin is deposited in the coin slot 6 just immediately to the right of the said window, whereupon the purchaser may slide the knob 7 to the left, thus causing the card 8 to be carried out to a position where the purchaser may seize and withdraw the same. Upon releasing the knob 7 it returns to normal position, in which position all, of the other knobs are shown (Fig. l). It should be' the coin devices except the one 30 sition whenever the cylinder is holding 40 and the latch 17 is as follows:

50 espring 20',

noted that through the medium of latches, such as the latch 9 shown in Fig. 8, and

shown also in Fig. 2, under the control of the lever 2, no coin controlled mechanism can be operated until the lever 2 is back in normal position. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the revolving frame 10 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 11. This shaft as shown in Fig. 3 is journaled in the collar 12,

10 which is on a plate across the bottom of the machine (Fig. 1). This shaft 11 extends l through the whole instrument, the other end being journaled in the upper part of the frame. P ivoted on the shaft 11 is the arm 2 l5 between the collar`12 and the collar 13. On

the arm 2 there is a` pawl 14, which works-in connection with the ratchet wheel 15, as shown in Fig. 2. It i-s through the medium of this pawl 14 and ratchet 15 that the cylinder l10 is rotated by the operation of the arm 2. The ratchet wheel 15, of course, is permanently secured 'with the cylinder 10. When the arm 2 is moved to the left (Fig. 2) it is necessary to hold the cylinder 10 so that it will not rotate toward the left with the arm 2. In order to prevent this rotation beneath the cylinder 10, there is pros vided a series of pins 16, each one of which is adapted to lock the cylinder in normal plotie cards in the partition immediately to the right of the pin (Fig. 2) in front of the windows. This locking is done through the medium of the latch 17. This latch, however, is moved out of the way by the arm 2,

dottedarm the lug 18 is shown dotted just albout clearing the cleat 19. At the same time that the lug 18 engages the cleat19, the pin 20 engages the finger 2l, driving it in a clock-wise direction against the tension of which is fastened to the frame and also against the tension of spring 22, which is fastened to the latch 17. As shown the latch 17 and the linger 21 are pivoted at the pivot 21. Obviously, therefore, as soon 5 as the arm 2 travels a little farther so that the lug 18 clears the cleat 19 completely, the spring 22 withdraws the latch 17 out of the path of the pin 16, permitting thereafter the lever ,2 to rotate the cylinder 10 in a counter 0 clock-Wise direction. Asshown in this particular machine, there are six compartments, each divided into six pockets, each pocket adapted' to contain any suitable number of cards. One of these pockets is shown in Fig. 9 containing a number of cards, Which cards arealways maintained with the outermost one 1n a definite position by the springs l23 and 24 (Figs. 9 and 3), there being two spilling out all of the cards. This means is shown in the strips 25, 26, 27, 28, etc. (see Figs. 2 and 3). 4The strips 25 and 26, for example, act to-hold the cards in the lowest pocket. The strips 26 and 27 act to holdv the cards in the next pocket from the bottom, and so on up. These strips are oi set enough from the wings 29, 30 and 'so on (Fig. 2) to permit the cards to pass into the card slots, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the coin controlled mechanism,lthrough the medium of which the cardsare withdrawn from the pockets and delivered to the customer, this mechanlsm is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. In Fig. 5 is shown the knob 7, which is also shown in Fig. 1. This particular knob 7 works back and forth in the slot 31. Normally it is impossible to move the knob 7 very far to the right, because it is fastened to the plate 32 and the plate 32 has a lug 33, which strikes the latch 34. This latch 34, however, is pivoted at the pin 35. By depositing a coin 36 in the slot 16, however, this latch may be gotten out of the way as follows: The coin, when deposited, is lodged between the walls 33 and 38 (Figs. 5. and 6). Now by moving the knob to the rlght, the carriage 32 is slid to the right, whereupon the coin 36 rises on the incline surface of the wedge 39, thereby raising the latch 34, as indicated in Fig. 6. The coin under these conditions is wedged between the latch 34 and the wedge 39, but as the carriage 32 moves still farther to the right, the lugs 40 and 41 come into engagement, raising the latch still farther, thereby disengaging the coin which drops down a suitable chute out of the way. The carriage 32 is held in normal position, that is, it is held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by the spring 41. Referring to Figs. 4 and 7, it will be seen that the carriage 32 slides in a track formed by pieces 42 and 43, which are so secured to the door frame 44 as to leave a channel for the carriage 32 to slide in. It will be observed that the piece 43 acts as a guide for the carriage 32, as well as for the carriage 45 immediately above. Similarly, the piece 42 acts as a guide for the carriage' 32, as well as for the carriage immediately below. The carriage 32 is also provided with a ratchet 46, which is adapted to Work in conjunction with the notches 47 on the upper edge of the plate 42. This ratchet 46 is under control of a spring 48, and is so arranged that Whenever the carriage 32 is started in operation to the right, it must complete the whole stroke before it can be returned in obedience to the tension in the spring 41.l On the carriage 32 there is pivoted a frame 49, which,4 is clearly shown in Figs.' 8 and 4. This frame carries on the end of it a roller 50 and arl edge plate 51. The arrangement is such that when the carriage 32 is moved to the right the roller 50 passes over the surface of the cards 52 (see Fig. 9) while the edge 51 engages the topmost card, driving it as thecarriage advances through the slot 53 (see Figs. provided on the carriage a spring 54, which has one endfastened tothe pin 55 (see Figs. 4, 7 and 8). The other end is fastened to the pin 56 on the frame 49. Fastened on to the frame of the door 44 and stationary therewith, and associated with there is a guide member 57 (see Figs. 4 and 8). The arrangement is such that normally, that is, when the carriage 32 is in normal position, the frame 49 rests on this guide piece 57, it being held there by the tension of the spring 54. As the carriage moves forward to the right, the roller 50 and the edge 51 begin to fall (Fig. 8) due to the slanting surface 58 near the leftside of the frame 49, which frame, it will be understood, is pivoted at the points 59 and 60. As the carriage advances the-frame 49 continues to fall until it strikes the pin 55, which is the limit of the stroke. Now as the carriage still further advances (see Figs.' 8 and 9), the roller 50 engages the cards 52, depressing them just enough to bring the top card within the reach of the edge member 51, which, as we have already explained, as the carriage advances still farther, engages said carriage pushing it beyond the latch 61 and out of the channel 58. All of the coin controlled devices, vit will be understood, of course, are constructed alike.

-Referring to Figs. 2 and 8, it will be seen that the carriage cannot be operated if the lever 2 is not in normal position, for the reason that as soon as the lever leaves its normal position, the arm 9 under tension of the springs 62, engages .the notch 63 of the carriage, which prevents its being `carried forward. Likewise if a coin controlled device is operated the lever 2 cannot be operated, as shown in Fig. 2 the fra-me of the carriage 32 prevents the arm 9 from moving forward thus preventing the latch 64 from responding to the springs 62 thereby retaining the latch 65 in the path of the pin 66.

It will thus be seen that I have a highly eiiicient and improved vending device particularly adapted to selling post-cards although the machinev is not limited to the Sellin of post-cards only. It may be used for se ling envelops or paper or anything of the kind.l The device which I have illustrated is capable easily of holding over 3600 cards. The machine is so arranged that at each stroke of the coin controlling mecha- 10 and 1). There is nism a single card may be delivered or several cards maybe delivered. Within each p ocketthe postal-cards may be alternately succeeded byl advertising matter infany suitable shape Which may be delivered at the Same time that the card is withdrawn without the necessity additional fee.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a; vending machine a cylinder having a'plurality fofvertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partit-ion, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cvlinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting ldevi'ces,.one for each levelv of pockets and common to all ofthe pockets in its level, each device adapted for removing cards one at a time fromany one of saidpockets, said means comprising a reciprocating hand opera-ted lever for rotating said cylinder to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices, and other means for preven'ting the backward or forward rotation of said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end of its stroke, said other means comprising a latch member and a tension spring controlling member, vsaid lever acting as a trigger to operate said tension member to cause tensionto be set up between the latch and the tension controlling member, and said lever acting to prevent said latch from operating until it reaches the end of its forward stroke, thereupon permitting the latch to unlock the cylinder.

2. In a vendin machine a cylinder having a plurality ofir vertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of 'card eX- tracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all of the pockets in its level, each device adapted `for removing cards one ait a time from any one of said pockets, said means comprising a reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating said -cylinder to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices, and

Y other means for preventing the backward or forward rotation of said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end of its stroke, and means for locking said lever when any one of the extracting mechanisms is operated.

3. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partiti'on, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets of having to deposit any and common to all of the pockets in its level, each device adapted for removing cards one at a time from any one of said pockets, said means comprising a reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating sald' cylinder to bring any partition opposlte the row of extracting devices, other means for preventing'the backward or forward rotation 0f said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end 'of its stroke, and means controlled by all the extracting mechanisms for locking said lever.

4. In a vending machine 'a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all of the pockets in its level, each device adapted for removing cards one at a time from any one of said pockets, said means comprising a reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating said cylinder to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices, other means for preventing the backward or forward rotation of said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end of its stroke, and means for operating one extracting mechanism at a time and locking all the rest.

5. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all of the pockets in its level, each device adapted for removing cards one at a time from any one of said pockets,means for operating each extracting device, each device having a vnormally locked reciprocating carriage, a card controlling means on the frame of said carriage and movable with thelatter, said means comprising a roller normally disengaged from the cards, means for lowering said roller onto said cards when the device is operated, a card engaging edge so placed with relation to sald roller that it is permitted to engage only a definite number of cards and remove the same from the pocket as the extracting device continues to move on.

6. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of c ard holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all of the pockets in its level, each `device .adapted for removing cards one'at a time from any one of said pockets, means for operating .eachextracting device,.each device having a normally locked reciprocating carriage, a card con trolling means on the frame of said carriage and movable with the latter, said means comprising. a roller normally disengaged from the cards, means for lowering said roller onto said cards when the extracting device is operated, and an adjustable card engaging edge so placed with relation to said roller that it is permitted to engage only a definite number of cards and remove the same from the pocket as the extracting device continues to move on.

7. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partit-ions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common'to all of the pockets in its level, each extracting device adapted for removing cards one at a time from any one of said pockets, each of said devices comprising a reciprocating carriage, a track for each carriage, means for preventing a carriage from returning to normal before it has completed its stroke, said means comprising a latch and ratchet, the same member that forms one track of one carriage forming also the ratchet of the carriage of the adjoining device.

8. In a vvending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of card' holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all of the pockets in its level, each device adapted for removing a definite number of cards each time that the extracting device is operated, said means comprising a reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating said cylinder to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices, and other means for preventing -the backward or forward rotation of said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end of its stroke.

' 9. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all of the pockets in its level,V

each device adapted for removing a definite number of cards each time that the extractlng device is operated, said means comprising a. reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating said cylinder to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices, and other means for preventing, the backward or forward rotation of said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end of lts stroke, said other means comprising a latch member and a tension spring controlling member, saidlever acting .as a trigger to operate said tension member to cause tension to be set up between the latch and the tension controlling member and said lever actmg to prevent said latch from operating until it reaches the end of its forward stroke, `thereupon permitting the latch to snap yand unlock the cylinder.

10. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a

pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby'said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all ofthe pockets in its level, each device adapted for removing a definite number of cards each time that the extractmg device is operated, said means comprising a reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating said cylinder to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices, and other means for preventing the backward or forward rotation of said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end of its stroke, and means for locking said lever when any one of the vextracting devices is operated.

11. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, 'a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivotal shaft for said cylinder whereby said cylinder may be rotated, means for rotating said cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all ofthe pockets in its level, each extracting device adapted for removing a definiteA number of cards eachtime that the device is operated, said means comprising a reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating said cylinder.to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices,

and other means for preventing the back-l ward or forward rotation of said cylinder `until the lever reaches the forward end of its stroke, and means controlled by all the extracting devices for locking said lever.

12. In a vending machine a cylinder having a plurality of vertical partitions, a plurality of card holding pockets in each partition, said pockets arranged in levels, a pivsaid cylinder, a plurality of card extracting devices, one for each level of pockets and common to all of the pockets in its level, each device adapted for removing a definite number of cards each 'time that the device is operated, said means-comprising a reciprocating hand operated lever for rotating said cylinder to bring any partition opposite the row of extracting devices, other means for preventing the backward or forward rotation of said cylinder until the lever reaches the forward end of its stroke, and means for operating one extracting device at a time and locking all the rest.

13. In a vending machine, a plurality of commodity holding compartments divided into tiers, each compartment adapted to hold a plurality of purchases of a commodity, an extractor for each tier provided with means for extracting the amount of one purchase at a time, said tiers being rotatably mounted. adjacent to said extractors,

the rotatable structure being completely inclosed within a casing, means for rotating said structure so as to bring any compartment opposite its corresponding extractor, and for then operating the structure to remove commodity therefrom to the extent of one purchase, said last means comprising a manually controlled mechanism, locklng means for said extractors and locking means for said mechanism, said extractor locking y means controlled by said mechanism.

14. In a vending machine, a plurality of commodity holding compartments divided into tiers, each compartment adapted to hold a plurality of purchases of a commodity, an extractor for each tier provided with means for extracting the amount of one purchase at a time, said tiers being rotatably mounted adjacent to said extractors, Ithe rotatable BETHUEL M. DAVIS.

Witnesses B. GARBER., R. BILLERBECK. 

